“You don’t need to go through all this trouble,” I said. “There’s no need for the medicine; the cigarette didn’t burn me.”
He remained silent, his face cold, but his hands continued their gentle movements.
“In fact, I’m not in pain,” I tried again in a soft voice.
Still, he didn’t respond, maintaining his icy silence.
“Cameron…”
“Shut up!” He finally reacted.
But this reaction was too…
“Really useless!” He scolded me while applying the medicine. “Just letting people bully you like that? Can’t you fight back? Why are you so stupid?”
“Don’t scold me…” I glanced at him discreetly.
For some reason, his harsh scolding made me feel a warm sensation in my heart.
This is getting out of hand!
“There were several of them… and I’m alone. How could I possibly fight back against them? Besides…”
I paused. “Besides, your fiancée was there. Would I dare to fight with her? What if I accidentally hurt her? You would be upset, wouldn’t you?”
Cameron looked at me, a hint of annoyance in his expression.
He reached out and tapped my head forcefully. “You’re really foolish…”
“If I care about her, why would I bother to go save you?”
My heart tightened, as if a warm current was spreading throughout my body.
“But remember, don’t confront her directly,” he said. “After all… she is my fiancée.”
“I know.” A sudden pang of bitterness filled my heart. “She’s your fiancée now, and she’ll be your wife in the future. … As for me, I’m just a mistress. What right do I have to compete with her?”
“Our alliance with The Scott family is just a business strategy,” he said in a calm tone. “In the business world, such things are common – using marriages between the children to strengthen the positions of both families, forming a powerful alliance for mutual benefit. Once I marry Queenie, our family will provide an additional two billion investments to Sunshine Real Estate under The Scott family. The Scott family wouldn’t miss out on such a good opportunity.”
“But we also get something out of it… Our family’s benefit is that we can participate in the annual dividends of Sunshine Real Estate and take a significant share.”
I nodded.
“This is what you need, a woman with a background and influence, someone with whom you can mutually benefit. So please, spare me… I have nothing, and I don’t want to live in constant fear. I don’t want an incident like today to happen again.”
“Then you better behave!” He suddenly increased the pressure in his grip.
“Cameron…”
“Laura, listen to me,” he lifted my chin, “Queenie is the woman I need, and so are you. Even if I marry her, our relationship won’t change. So be sensible… Follow me, and I won’t mistreat you.”
Won’t mistreat me?
The words sounded bitterly ironic.
I looked at him closely. How did I fall for a man like him? Was it because he was handsome and wealthy? Because he excelled in bed? Or was it because… he happened to fill the void in my heart?
Since childhood, I had no one to rely on. My mother’s whereabouts were unknown, and my father was… Subconsciously, I yearned for a hero to come to my rescue – someone who could protect and cherish me, shielding me from the harm of the world.
Cameron happened to claim me with his dominant attitude, simultaneously torturing and captivating me. In my mind, he became a formidable hero. Yet, the person he intended to marry wasn’t me; he only wanted me as his mistress, an unnamed and unofficial woman by his side.
“Listen,” his voice deep and husky, “Besides titles, I can give you everything.”
“So, Laura, you just need to stay by my side and be at my beck and call.”
“After all, Carter can’t satisfy you, and I don’t have any feelings for Queenie. When we are together, you are happy, aren’t you?”
He patted my face and chuckled, “Go cook something for me; I’m hungry.”
“Even in this state, you’re still making demands on me…” I complained.
“Your hands are not injured, and I don’t want anything too complicated. Can’t you make a simple plate of spaghetti?”
I looked at him, helpless. I murmured, “You’re really shameless.”
“Indeed, you understand me the best!”
I didn’t argue with him, lifted my foot and headed to the kitchen. Just as I reached the doorway, I heard him calling from behind, “I think you should learn some self-defense. How about finding a teacher for you?”
“No need, I don’t have that talent in that area.”
“Learning some self-defense would be beneficial for you. I can’t be by your side every day. What will you do the next time you encounter such a situation?”
“I won’t be unlucky every time. Besides, didn’t you tell me not to provoke Queenie? I’ll keep my distance from her. But speaking of which, I didn’t provoke her. It’s you who has been provoking me continuously, and she happened to catch us! The two of you take turns tormenting me, and one day, I’ll reach my limit!”
“Are you angry?” Cameron walked over, circled me from behind, “How about I apologize to you?”
“I just want you to leave me alone.”
“I can’t leave you alone. It’s impossible.”
“Cameron…”
“Go learn some self-defense,” he said, “Taekwondo or something. In the future, as a journalist covering news, you’ll inevitably encounter all kinds of people. Learning this can help you defend yourself.”
“You’re always like this…” I sighed, “I tell you something important, and you divert the conversation.”
“Something important?” His face came close, our noses touching, “The only thing you need to consider now is how to please me… and make sure you cook that spaghetti well!”
He smirked and exited the kitchen, leaving me there to continue cooking the spaghetti.
At that moment, the doorbell rang, and I panicked, glancing at Cameron. He remained calm, furrowing his brow slightly, and walked over to the door. After a moment’s hesitation, he opened it.
“What took you so long?” A familiar voice came from the doorway.
Cameron smiled and let Patrick in, “What brings you here so late?”
“You guys talk, don’t mind me,” I said, placing the cooked spaghetti on the table.
“You’re the kind of person who needs Laura to keep you in line!” Patrick retorted.
“Get lost!” Cameron punched him back, “By the way, what did you come to see me about?”
Patrick hesitated for a moment.
Cameron knew him well; Patrick wouldn’t lie in front of acquaintances.
Cameron’s expression subtly changed. He looked at me, then back at Patrick. “So… you’re here to see Laura?”
Patrick lowered his head, confirming it with his silence.
My heart sank.
“Really here for her?” Cameron laughed, “What’s the matter? Did you think I wasn’t at home? Trying to find Laura alone while I’m away? What’s your intention?”
“No, it’s not like that.” After a pause, Patrick said softly, “I didn’t know both you and Laura were here, and I thought… maybe Laura wasn’t here. I just came to try my luck. Cameron, when are you going to get rid of this suspicious habit of yours?”
“I’m not suspicious!” Cameron retorted. “Patrick, I can easily extract the truth from you with a simple bluff. ”
Patrick glanced at him and burst into laughter.
“What’s in your hand?” Cameron suddenly asked.
It was only then that I noticed Patrick holding a paper bag. When Cameron asked him, he instinctively hid it behind him.
“Nothing, just work-related stuff.”
“Let me see.”
“It’s confidential work material.”
“Confidential?” Cameron chuckled. “When you showed me the case file of my sister’s case before, you didn’t say that was confidential!”
“Enough, don’t mess around!” Patrick’s expression changed, and he stood up to leave. “I won’t disturb your good time. You guys enjoy your private world; I’m leaving.”
I glanced at the man’s back in bewilderment.
Actually, I’m quite puzzled too. Why did he come? What did he want? He practically admitted he came to see me but left without saying anything…?
As a cop, his time was precious. How could he waste it like this?
Was everything related to the bag in his hand?
And he clearly didn’t want Cameron to know what was inside the bag.
Patrick knew my background…
I felt uneasy, Cameron called my name several times, but I didn’t respond.
“Laura, are you out of it?”
“Huh?” I startled.
“Let’s eat together.”
“Okay…”
I agreed but remained restless.
Next, inevitably, we made love again, but I was completely distracted, my mind elsewhere. Several times, Cameron gripped my shoulders tightly as he thrust forcefully… Either he flipped me over, his large hands clasping my waist, as he pounded into my body relentlessly..
“What’s wrong with you?” he was displeased.
He got up, walked to the balcony, and lit a cigarette. I crawled out of bed in a daze. At that moment, my phone made a “ding” sound.
It was a message from Patrick!
I gripped my phone, my heart pounding intensely. I quickly retreated to the bathroom and locked the door before daring to open the message.
?Tomorrow at 2 PM, outside the prison gates. I’ve arranged for you to meet your fathe.】